India refutes China’s ‘‘untenable claim’’ over Line of Actual Control
AHEAD of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Russia, New Delhi has rubbished China’s claim with regard to Line of Actual Control as untenable and unacceptable. Ministry of External Affairs has asserted that the position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. In response to queries on the statement issued by the Chinese Spokesperson on the events in the Galwan valley area, his Indian counterpart Anurag Srivastava said such claims are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past. Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley. They abide by it scrupulously and the Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. In fact, they have been patrolling this area for a long time without any incident, Anurag Srivastava said adding all infrastructure built by the Indian side is naturally on its own side of the LAC. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with The Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs on the situation in Ladakh. Armed forces were given full freedom to deal with any aggressive behaviour by China’s PLA along the LAC. The meet also discussed to adopt a different tactical approach to guarding the border with China henceforth. Top military brass also told to ensure strict vigil on Chinese activities around the land border, airspace and in strategic sea lanes.